Shock cord handling tool



June 1943- F. A. TREADWELL SHOCK CORD HANDLING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 11, 1941 rl/lf/lll/I/l/Illl/llll/llllllld INVENTOR.

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ATI'D R N EYE June 8, 1943.

F. A. TREADWELL SHOCK CORD HANDLING TOOL Filed Dec. 11, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

Ennis A. Jfeadwall:

Patented June 8, 1943 or ies SHOCK CORD HANDLING TOOL Frank A.Treadwcll, Siloam Springs, Ark.

Application December 11, 1941, Serial No. 422,586 3 Claims. (01. 29-84)The present invention relates to tools for handling shock cords ofairplanes.

An object of the invention is to provide a shock cord handling toolwhich will greatly expedite the removal of the shock cord.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a shock cordhandling tool designed to simplify the assembly of a shock cord.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tool of theabove character which will enable handling of a shock cord withoutdamaging the cord or the cord wrapper.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a shock cordhandling tool constructed so that the shock cord can be disconnected orassembled in position with a minimum of time and labor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tool ofthe aforesaid character which is comparatively simple and durable inconstruction and highly efficient in use.

ther objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription and appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawings illustrating a practical adaptation of theinvent-ion,

and in which Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section taken online 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the toolin cord removing position in association with an airplane landing gear,

Figure 7 is a similar view showing the tool in a difierent position,

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the tool in an advanced cord removingposition, and

Figure 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the toolmounted for assembling a shock cord on an airplane landing gear.

With reference to the drawings, wherein like characters of referencedenote corresponding parts throughout the several views, l5 designatesan elongated body member which may be in the form of a round bar ofmainly hollow structure provided at one end with a solid extensionsection II formed with a slot 12. This slotted end porof the tubularportion I9.

tion of the body connects with a mounting head 13 in the form of aflanged disk having an inwardly directed annular extension flange l4providing an annular groove I5 in the periphery of the head. At theinner face of the disk is provided a laterally projecting apertu'red lugl5 disposed eccentri-cally of the disk and extending into the slot i2. Apivot pin ll connects the lug IS with the end portion of the body it sothat the head 13 is pivotally adjustable with reference to the axis ofthe body.

On the opposite end of the body forming bar is removably mounted aremoval head it embodying a tubular portion l9 bevelled at the inner endand having the outer end enlarged and shaped to form an annular boss 2i!defining a shallow socket. At one side of the socket defining boss 20 isformed a longitudinal projection 2| providing a segmental fingerextending outwardly of the head !8 and having an arcuate cross sectionalcontour concentric with the axis At the outer end of the projection 2!is formed a transverse lip 22 projecting radially and outwardly of thefinger. As shown to advantage at Figures 2 and 3, that portion of theboss diametrically opposite the finger projection 2! is shaped toprovide an eccentric groove 23 in an arouate portion of th boss.

As best illustrated at Figures 1 and 3, a tubular portion IQ of theremoval head provided with diametrically opposed openings adapted to bealigned with corresponding openings in the end portion of the body bar Iii to slidably receive therethrough a turning rod 24 extendingtransversely of the body. On one end of the rod 24 is integrally formedan enlarged knurled knob 25 While the opposite end is exteriorly screwthreaded to receive thereon an interiorly threaded removable knob 26.Thus, the rod 24 serves not only to removably connect the head I8 withthe end of the body pin but to provide means for conveniently turningthe body and head, as will be more clearly described hereinafter.

At the intermediate portion of the body bar In is slidably fitted anelongated tubular sleeve member 21 formed at one end with an outwardlyprojecting flange 28 which makes a tapered fillet forming juncture withthe sleeve body.

The tool is particularly designed for use in connection with the shockcord mounting of an airplane, a conventional form of which embodies apair of studs S projecting laterally from a stem T, of the landing gearstructure of an airplane. On it outer end each of the studs S is formedwith an eccentrically arranged disk D forming a stud head or buttonproviding a fiange of varying width about the stud. Over the stud S arelooped portions of a shock cord C formed of stretchable material, suchas rubber, and commonly covered by fabric or the like. It is the customto require removal of such cords at prescribed period to permitinspection of the cord and the cord carrying gear.

With my novel tool the removal of the cord is effected easily andrapidly by initially fitting the boss 20 of the removal head over thebutton disk D, with the arcuate groove 23 uppermost and fitted on theupper part of the button periphery. The finger projection 2| is disposeddownwardly, as shown at Figure 6, for convenient insertion under theloop or bight of the cord. The tool is then rotated, principally throughthe medium of the cross rod 24, with the finger projection 2| engagingthe under side of the bight and the lip 22 engaging the inner sidethereof, the removal head being rotated through an arc of approximatelyninety degrees, and until the finger assumes a position at the top ofthe end disk D. During such turning movement the groove 23 disengagesthe periphery of the disk and attains a downward position. The handleforming body I0 of the tool is ,then swung downwardly about the end diskof the stud, as illustrated at Figure 8, with the result that the fingerprojection acts as a lever to remove the loop of the cord from the studand swing the same over the end disk, despite the tension of the cord,so that the cord is readily detached.

To replace the cord on the gear studs the tool is turned about so thatthe opposite assembly head I3 is fitted on the end disk D, the outerannular flange l4 thereof sliding over the periphery of the disk so thatthe groove 15 will firmly engage the upper marginal portion of the disk.

When thus disposed the lug I6 is arranged in its uppermost position andin a vertical plane with the body handle ll) extending at a downwardinclination with reference to the stud. The sleeve 21 is adjusted to aposition below the pivot connection of the head I3 with the handle bodyand a portion of the cord C is looped about the said sleeve, as clearlyshown at Figure 9. The body It! is then swung through an upward arc,about the pivot l1, causing the elasticity of the cord to slide thesleeve inward toward the stud disk and when the sleeve assumes anupwardly directed position the cord bight is slid over the flange 28thereof and over the head l3 on to the stud.

As will be readily apparent the tool is designed to eliminate sharpedges and to reduce to a minimum any twisting or rubbing action of thecord, so as to prevent injury to the cord or its fabric covering. Thus,the tool enables rapid and convenient removal and replacement of thecord without damage thereto as the result of such handling.

It is to be understood that the invention is not confined to thespecific construction, arrangement or use illustrated and described andthat considerable modification may be made therein within the spirit ofthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tool of the character described comprising a body bar, a tubularhead member fitted on one end of the said bar, a socket forming boss onthe outer end of the said tubular head, the said boss having aneccentric groove in an arcuate portion thereof, a lever formingprojection extending longitudinally from the said boss, and an outwardlyprojecting transverse lip formed on the outer end of the saidprojection.

2. A tool for removing the shock cord with reference to the headed studof an airplane landing gear comprising an elongated body bar, a tubularhead member secured on one end of the bar, a socket formed on the outerend of the said head member rotatably engageable with the head of thesaid stud, a lever forming projection extending longitudinally from oneside of the socket, and a lip on the outer end of the said projectionadapted to engage the bight of a shock cord for lifting and swingingthesaid bight over the head of the stud.

3. A tool for removing the shock cord with reference to the headed studsof an airplane landing gear, comprising an elongated body forming bar, atubular head member fitted on one end of the bar, a socket forming bosson the outer end of the tubular head member, a longitudinally projectingfinger element formed at one side of the boss and extending outwardlythereof, an outwardly protruding lip formed on the outer end of the saidfinger element, the said boss having an eccentric groove in an arcuateportion thereof engageable with the head of the stud, and a rod extendedtransversely through the body bar and tubular head member for turningthe head and finger for lifting and swinging a loop of the shock cordover the head of the cord supporting stud.

FRANK A. TREADWELL.

